Newspaper or magazine vending machine



y 1957 F. H. ABENDSCHEIN NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE VENDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11. 1954 F: G. I.

5O INVENTOR FREDERKZ H,ABF NDSCHE\N ATTORNEYS BY WW *WW July'23, 1957 F. H. ABENDSCHEIN 2,800,251

. NEWSPAPER 0R- MAGAZINE VENDING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1954 r 1 a Sheets-Sheet 2 9o INVENTOR I FRE-DERIC HAaeuuscusm y 1957 F. H. ABENDSCHEIN 2,800,251

NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE vswnmq MACHINE Filed May 11, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 24 FIG. 4, Q 7 1 F197 MOTOR COIN CONTROL MiCHANl INVENTOR FREDERIC H, Asmoscnam F I 5. 6. F: G. 9.

ATTORNEYS United States P ten NEWSPAPER R MAGAZINE VENDING MACHINE Frederic H. Abendschein, Columbia, Pa.

Application May 11, 1954, Serial No. 428,950 7 Claims; (Cl. 221-211 This invention relates to newspaper or periodical vending machines, and more particularly to an improved coin controlled newspaper or periodical vending machine.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine for dispensing newspapers or periodicals, said machine being simple in construction, being entirely automatic in operation, and involving relatively few parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved newspaper or periodical vending machine which is coin controlled, which is reliable in operation, and which is sturdy in construction.

A still further objectof the invention is to provide an automatic coin controlled newspaperor periodical vending machine which is relatively inexpensive to fabricate,

which is provided with means for dispensing magazines or newspapers without damage thereto, and whichis relatively compact in size.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved newspaper or periodical vending machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, the, exterior housing of the machine being omitted. v

Figure 2 is a front elevational'view of the upper portion of the vending machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the machine of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4- is an enlarged fragmentary top plan detail view of one end portion of the suction nozzle and sup porting means therefor, as employed in themachine of Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view'taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 4. I

Figure 8 is an electrical wiring diagram of the machine of Figures 1 to 7 and including a front elevational view of the motor control relay employed in the machine.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the motor control relay illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational detail view taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the newspaper or periodical vending machine is designated generally at 11 and comprises a horizontal supporting plate 12 which is supported on suitable legs 13, the plate 12 having secured to one margin thereof the downwardly and forwardly inclined receiving tray 14 formed at its lower forward margin with the upstanding curved stop flange 15. The tray 14 is adapted to receive a newspaper or periodical which is vended by the machine from a vertical stack 16 of newspapers or periodicals disposed on the horizontal supporting plate 12, as will be presently described.

Designated at 17, 17 are a pair of vertical upstanding taken on the line ice tubular guide members rigidly secured on the plate 12 adjacent the opposite side margins thereof, the vertical guide members 17 being adapted to receive the stack of newspapers or periodicals 16 therebetween, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. The tubular guide members 17 .register with suitable openings formed in the horizontal plate 12, so that the tubular members 17 open below the horizontal supporting plate 12 for a purpose presently to be described.

Designated at 18 is a horizontal carriage plate which is. arranged to overlie the stack of newspapers or periodicals 16, said carriage plate being formed with respective apertures slidably receiving the vertical tubular guide members 17, 17, the carriage plate having secured to its bottom surface the respective collars 19, 19 which are provided with suitable anti-friction means, such as the ball bearings 20 engaging the vertical tubular guide members 17, the collars 19 being secured below the carriage plate 18 by any suitable means, such as by the machine screws 21 shown in Figure 10.

Secured to the collars 19 are the respective inwardly extending studs 22 to which are journaled the respective rollers 23 adapted to engage the uppermost newspaper or periodical in the stack 16, in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 10. i

A pair ofadditional vertical tubular guide members 17, 17 are rigidly secured to thesupporting plate 12 and extend slidably through collars 19, 19' secured on the carriage plate 18, the vertical guide members 17, 17' defining rear stop means which cooperate with the vertical guide members 17, 17 to define a rectangular enclosure for receiving the stackof newspapers or periodicals 16. Y

Secured to the respective side edges of the carriage inwardly and outwardly from the carriage plate 18, as

will be presently described. s

The nozzle member 27 is secured at its respective ends to the respective vertical plate members 29 and 30, said plate members being provided with the respective studs 31 and 32 spaced below and above the axis of the nozzle member 27, as shown in Figure 7. Secured to the plate members 29 and 30 in outwardly spaced parallel relation thereto are the respective outer vertical plates 33 and 34, as by respective bolt members 35' and 36 threadedly engaged axially with the studs 32 and 31, as shown in Figure 7 Journaled on the bolts 35 and 36 are the respective peripherally grooved rollers 37 and 33 between which are received the track bars 24, whereby the nozzle member 27 is supportedfor inward and outward movementrelative to the carriage plate 18.

. The tubular nozzle member 27 is formed with the lon gitudi-nally extending bottom orifice slot 39 which is nor mally disposed adjacent to and substantially in contact with the uppermost newspaper or periodical on the stack 16,, namely, when the nozzle 27 is in its innermost positjon relative to the carriage plate 18, as shown in Figure 1. .De'signated at 40. is a vacuum-producing blower device whichhasits intake, or vacuum, port 41 connected to the intermediate top portion or, the nozzle member. 27 I 46 is-mounted on thecarriage plate 18 in alignment withthe motor 43 and the blower 4%), as illustrated and the auxiliary shaft 45 is journaled on the carriageplate 18 by suitable bearings47', 47"as-shown. v

The gearbox 46 is conventional in construction and provides a substantial speed/reductionbetween the motor shaft 44 and the auxiliary shaft 45, whereby the aux iliary shaft 45 is driven at a relatively slowspeed when the motor 43 is energized.

Secured to the opposite ends of the auxiliary shaft 45 are the respective crank discs 48, 48. The crank discs 48, 48are connected to the respective outer 'guide plates 33 and 34 by respective crank bars 49 and 50 which are; thus arranged. to reciprocate the nozzle'member 27 outwardly and inwardly when the motor 43- is energized. Front the above itwill be: seen that when the motor 43' i's energized the blower 40 is*actuated,-producing suction in the nozzle 27. With thenozzlearranged as shown in Figure l, the suction thus producedwill cause the nozzle to attract and hold the forward marginal portion of the uppermost newspaper or periodical on the stack 16, and as the nozzle 27' is moved outwardly by the action of the crank discs 48 and links 49'and 50; the uppermost newspaper or periodical will be moved outwardly from thetop of the stack 16 to a position overlying the receiving tray '14. portions 25 on the track bars 24, the newspaper or periodical is lifted slightly as it is moved outwardly, whereby it issustficientlyelevated to smoothly clear the subjacent newspaper or periodical on the stack 16 without causing movement of said subjacent newspaper or periodical.

The respective opposite ends of the tubular nozzle 27 are provided with the respective slidable vent valves 51 which are formed attheir opopsite ends with the upstanding flanges 52- and 53. As shown in Figure 4,, each flange 52 is connected by coiled springs 54 to stop pins 55 to biasthe edge of the valve adjacent flange 53 against the stop pins, said stop pins being secured to the vertical end plate 29 or 3t) of the nozzle, whereby the slide valve 51 is biased toward closing position. Secured to the end portion of the respective track bars 24, 24 are the inwardly projecting pin members 56 which are engageable by thevalve flanges 53 when the nozzle member 27 reaches the outermost end of its travel, whereby the slide valves 51 are automatically opened as the nozzle member reaches its outermost position, releasing the vacuum, and allowing the newspaper or periodical carried by the nozzleto be dropped 'downwardly'onto the receiving tray 14.

As the nozzle 27 is moved inwardly by'the crank discs 48 and links 49, 50, the slide valves 51 are allowed to close, whereby the nozzle member 27 is prepared fora subsequent operation as it reaches its innermost position.

As shown in Figure 8, the motor 43 is controlled by a conventional coin-operated switch 57 and a relay 58 controlled by said switch. The coin-operated switch 57 is of the type having a pair of contacts 59 and 60 which are momentarily closed when a coin is dropped into the device, the coin passing downwardly into the device and thus allowing the contacts 59 and 60 to opensubsequent to the passage of the coin. As shown in Figure 8, a pair of line wires 61 and 62 are connected to a suitable power supply by means of a conventional plug 63. The line wire 61 is connected to the coin switch contact 59. The coin switch contact 60 is connected by a conductor 64 to one terminal of the solenoid. winding 65 of the relay 58. The other terminal of said winding is connected to the line wire 62. Thus, the solenoid winding 65 is, momentarily actuated. as the coin closes the contacts 59' and 60.

The solenoid 65 is provided with the axially extending plunger 66 which has secured to its top end, .as viewed in Figures 8 and 9, the transversely extending bar member 67 of insulatingmaterial. Secured to said bar mem- By the provision of the upwardly offset ber by respective end bolts 68, 68 is another insulating bar member 69 carrying a pairof spring contacts 70 and 71. Mounted on the insulating bar 67 are a pair of contacts 72 and 73 which are connected together by a conductor 74. Thus, when the solenoid 65 is energized, the plunger 66 is elevated, raising the bar member 67 and causing the contacts 72 and '73, and the conductor 74 to bridge the spring contacts 7 0 and 71.

The spring contact 70 is connected by a conductor 75 to the line wire 61. The spring contact 71 is connected by a conductor 76 to one terminal of the motor 43. The other terminal of said motor is connected by a conductor 77 to the line wire 62.

From the above: it will be seen that when the solenoid 65 is energized, as by the closure of the coin-controlled contacts 59 and 60, as above described, the terminals of the motor 43 are connected to the line wires 61 and 62 by a circuit comprising the conductor 76, the contact 71, the contact 73, the conductor 74', thecontact 72, the

- springconta'ct 7 0; the conductor 75 and the line wire 61.

The solenoid 65' is maintained energized by a mechanical trip device comprising a lever member 78 which is pivoted at 79' to a bracket 80' secured to a' wall of the solenoid housing 81, as shown in Figure 9, the upper'portion of the lever 78 being" connected by a spring 82 to thewall of the solenoid housing 81 to bias the lever 78 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 9. Normally, the upper portion ofthelever 78is. in abutment with an edge of thebottom end ofthe plunger 66. As the solenoid 65 is energized, the plunger. 66 is elevated, releasing the lever'78 and allowing said lever to be moved to a ver tical' position underlying the plunger 66 and supporting said plunger in its elevated position, whereby the contacts. 7'2 and 73 remain in conductive engagement with the lower ends of the spring contacts 70 and 71.

As shown in Figure 9, a stop pin 84 is secured to'the Wall of the solenoidhousing 81, said stop pin projecting towardl'the lever member 78 and serving as a stop means to limit rotation ofsaid lever 7 8 only'to the amount necessary, to bringsaid lever to avertical position substantially in alignment with the plunger 66 as the lever is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Figure 9, by the action of the spring '82, following energization ofthe solenoid 65.

From the above it will be seen that when the contacts 59 and 60v are closed, as by the insertion of a coin in the coin switch 57, the solenoid 65 becomes energized and remains energized after the contacts 59 and 60 open, after the coin has passed through the device into the coin box thereof; The motor 43 will remain energized as long as the solenoid plunger 66 is maintained in its elevated position.

Secured to the lower end of'the lever 78 is a horizontally extending pin-member 85 which extends through an arcuate slot 86 formed in the wall of the solenoid housing, 81 and which is engageable by the vertical edge of'the nozzle supporting plate 30 when the nozzle 27 returnsvto the position thereof shown in Figure 1 after a newspaper or periodical has been dispensed thereby. When thesolenoid' 65' is first energized by the closure of the contacts 59 and 60,.the contacts 72 and 73 engage the contacts 70 and '71 and cause the motor 43 to be energized sufliciently long to begin the outward movement of the nozzle member 27';- Thus, the plate 30 disengages from the pin 85, and the lever 78 is allowed to rotate to its vertical position underlying the plunger 66 and to remain in said vertical position until the nozzle member 27' returns to the starting position thereof, shown in Figure 1'. When the nozzle member returns to this starting position, the" plate member 30 engages the pin 85 and causes" thexlever 78 to be rotated counterclockwise, as viewedv in Figure 9; from itsvertical position, to the position thereofshown inFigule' 9, whereby the plunger 66 of the solenoid 65', now deenergized, is allowed to drop toth'enormal position thereof shown in Figure 9, disconnecting .the" contacts 70 and 71', and opening the energizing circuit of the motor 43. This terminates the cycle and resets the device for the next cycle thereof, which is initiated by the insertion of a coin in the coin switch 57 and the resultant momentary closure of the contacts 59 and 60.

As will be apparent from Figure 3, the carrier plate 18 normally overlies the uppermost newspaper or periodical in the stack 16 and said uppermost newspaper or periodical is engaged by the rollers 23 with some force, although the force is not sufiicient to interfere with the outward movement of the uppermost newspaper or periodical produced by the action of the suction nozzle 27 and its outward movement as the vending cycle begins. To prevent the force of engagement of the rollers 23 with the uppermost newspaper or periodical from being excessive, counterweights 90, 90 are provided, said counterweights being connected to respective flexible" cables 91 which extend through the tubular guide members 17 and over pulleys 92 journaled to the top end-s of said tubular guide members. The upper ends of the cables 91 are secured to the carriage plate 18, whereby the weights 9t), 90 act to counterbalance the weight of the plate 18 and the elements mounted thereon, whereby the force exerted by the rollers 23 on the uppermost newspaper or periodical of the stack 16 is relatively light.

It will be understood that a suitable housing, not shown, is employed over the machine above described, said housing being provided with a suitable opening adjacent the outer flange 15 of the tray 14 to allow the newspaper or periodical vended by the machine to be extracted by the purchaser. g

While a specific embodiment of an improved newspaper or periodical vending machine has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A newspaper or periodical vending machine comprising a horizontal support adapted to receive a vertical stack of newspapers or periodicals thereon, upstanding vertical guide means on said support, a carriage member slidably engaged with said vertical guide means and arrangedto engage the top of said stack, an elongated, longitudinally extending suction'nozzle carried by said carriage member and'having a downwardly facing, elongated, longitudinally extending orifice normally in proximity to the longitudinal side marginal portion of the uppermost newspaper or periodical on the stack, vacuumproducing mean-s on said carriage member connected to said nozzle, a motor drivingly connected to said vacuumproducing means, means for energizing said motor, means connecting said motor to said nozzle and being arranged to reciprocate said nozzle outwardly and inwardly responsive to operation of said motor, a normally closed vent valve on said nozzle, means for opening said valve responsive to the outward movement of said nozzle to a predetermined position, to release the vacuum in the nozzle, and means for deenergizing said motor when the nozzle has been returned inwardly to a position overlying the stack of newspapers or periodicals.

2.' A newspaper or periodical vending machine comprising a horizontal support adapted to receive a vertical stack of newspapers or periodicals thereon, upstanding vertical guide means on said support, a carriage member slidably engaged with said vertical guide means and arranged to engage the top of said stack, an elongated, longitudinally extending suction nozzle carried by said carriage member and having a downwardly facing, elongated, longitudinally extending orifice normally in proximity to the longitudinal side marginal portion of the uppermost newspaper or periodical on the stack, vacuumproduciug means connected to said nozzle, a motor drivingly connected to said vacuum-producing means, means for energizing said motor, a crank driven by said motor, means connecting said crank to said nozzle and being arranged to reciprocate said nozzle outwardly and in wardly responsive to rotation of said crank, a normally closed vent valve on said nozzle, means for opening said valve responsive to the outward movement of said nozzle to a predetermined position, to release the vacuum in the nozzle, and'means for deenergizing said motor.

when the nozzle has been returned'inwardly to a position overlying the stack of newspapers or periodicals 3. A newspaper or periodical vending machine comprising a horizontal support adapted to receive a vertical stack of newspapers or periodicals thereon, upstanding vertical guide means on said support, a carriage member slidably engaged with said vertical guide means and arranged to engage the top of said stack, an elongated, longitudinally extending suction nozzle carried by said carriage member and having a downwardly facing, elongated, longitudinally extending orifice normally in proximity to the longitudinal side marginal portion of the uppermost newspaper or periodical of the stack, vacuum-producing means connected to said nozzle, a motor drivingly connected to said vacuum-producing means, means for energizing said motor, a crank driven by said motor, means slidably supporting said nozzle for movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said carriage member, link means connecting said crank to said nozzle, a normally closed vent valve on'said nozzle, means for opening said valve responsive to the outward movement ofvsaid' nozzle to a predetermined position, to release the vacuum in the nozzle, and means for deenergizing said motor when the nozzle has been returned inwardly to a position overlying-the stack of newspapers or periodicals.

4. A newspaper or periodical vending machine comprising a horizontal support adapted to receive a vertical stack of newspaper or periodicals thereon, vertical guide means on said support, a carriage member slidably engaged with said guide means and arranged to engage the top of the stack, an elongated, longitudinally extending, horizontal suction nozzle adjacent a margin of said carriage member, means on said carriage member slidably supporting said nozzle for outward and inward movement relative to said carriage member, said nozzle having a downwardly facing elongated, longitudinally extending orifice normally in proximity to the longitudinal side margin of the uppermost newspaper or periodical on the stack, vacuum-producing means on the carriage member connected to said nozzle, a motor drivingly connected to said vacuum-producing means, a crank driven by said motor, link means connecting said crank to said nozzle and arranged to reciprocate said nozzle, a normally closed vent valve on said nozzle, means for opening said valve responsive to the outward movement of said nozzle to a predetermined position, means for energizing said motor, and means for de-energizing said motor when the nozzle has returned to a normal position overlying said stack subsequent to the opening of said vent valve.

5. A newspaper or periodical vending machine comprising a horizontal support adapted to receive a vertical stack of newspapers or periodicals thereon, vertical guide means on said support, a carriage member slidably engaged with said guide means and arranged to engage the top of the stack, an elongated, longitudinally extending, horizontal suction nozzle adjacent a margin of said carriage member, means, on said carriage member slidably supporting said nozzle for outward and inward movement relative to said carriage member, said nozzle having a downwardly facing elongated, longitudinally extending orifice normally in proximity to the longitudinal side margin of the uppermost newspaper or periodical on the stack, vacuum-producing means on the carriage member connected to said nozzle, a motor drivingly connected to said vacuum-producing means, a crank driven by said motor, link means connecting said crank to said nozzle and arranged to reciprocate said nozzle, a normally closed vent valve, on said nozzle, means. for opening'said valve responsive to the outward movement of said nozzle to apredetermined position, relay means controlling said motor,.means for, energizing said relay means, and means for deenergizing said relay means when the nozzle has returned to a normal position overlying said stack subsequent to the opening of said vent valve.

67 A newspaper or periodical vending machine comprising/a horizontal support adapted to receive a vertical stack of. newspapers or periodicals thereon, vertical guide means on said support, a carriage member slidably engaged with said guide means and arranged to engage the top of the stack, an. elongated, longitudinally extending horizontal suction nozzle adjacent a margin of said carriage .tnember, means on said carriage member slidably supporting said nozzlev for outward and inward movement relative to said carriage member, said nozzle having a downwardly facing, elongated, longitudinally extending orifice. normally in proximity to the longitudinal side margin of the uppermost newspaper or periodical on the stack, vacuum-producing means on the carriage member connected to said nozzle, a motor drivingly connected to said vacuum-producing means, a crank driven by said motor, link means connecting said crank nozzle and arranged to repiprocate said nozzle, a-normally closed vent valve on said nozzle, means arranged to open'said valve responsive to the outward movement of said nozzle to a predetermined position, relay means controllingsaid motor, said relay means comprising a solenoid, an armature operated by said solenoid, and a normally open switch means closed by said armature responsive to energization of said solenoid, means for at times energizing gagedwith said'guide means and arranged to engage the top of the stack, an elongated, longitudinally extendinghorizontal suction nozzle adjacent a margin of said connected to said nozzle, a motor drivingly connected to said vacuum-producing means, a crank driven by said motor, link means connecting said crank to said nozzle and arranged to reciprocate said nozzle,,a normally closed vent valve on said nozzle, means arranged to open said valve responsive to the outward movement of said nozzle to a predetermined position, relay means controlling said.

motor, said, relay means comprising a solenoid, an armature operated by said solenoid, and normally open switch,

means closed by said armature responsiveto energization of said solenoid, means for at times energizing. said. solenoid, an energizing circuit including said switch means and said motor, support means arranged to maintain said armature in contact-closing position after the motor has been energized by the closure of said contact and, after, the nozzle has. been moved outward from its normal position, and means arranged to move said supportv means out of engagement with the armature to release thearma ture responsive to the return of said nozzle to said normal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 317,929 Cox May 12, 1885 409,571 Fischer Aug 20, 1889 852,222 Conover Apr; 30, 1907 1,250,902 Krueger Dec. 18, 1917 1,712,546 1929 1,942,885 Tevander u Jan. 9, 1934 2,276,683 Bailey Mar; 17, 1942 2,287,956 Art June 30, 1 942 2,455,650 Billner 1948 2,546,838 Tasche Mar 27, 1951 2,601,072 Van Schre June 17, 1952 2,634,125 Bamber Apr. 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 225,073 1 Switzerland June 28, 1938 634,194 Great Britain Mar. 15, 1950 

